Intro to Design Thinking for Nonprofit Growth

Today’s nonprofit organizations face unique challenges, demanding innovative solutions that are both cost-effective and make a measurable impact. This 3-hour course introduces participants to the fundamentals of Design Thinking—a human-centered approach to problem-solving that empowers organizations to tackle complex issues with creativity and empathy.

Through a blend of interactive lectures, hands-on activities, and real-world examples, participants will learn the key principles of Design Thinking and how to apply them to their nonprofit work. From empathizing with stakeholders to prototyping and testing solutions, attendees will gain practical skills to drive positive change within their organizations.

By the end of the course, participants will have a solid understanding of Design Thinking methodology and how it can be leveraged to foster innovation, improve program effectiveness, and ultimately, drive growth for their nonprofit initiatives.

Key Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the principles and process of Design Thinking.
2. Learn how to empathize with stakeholders to uncover their needs and challenges.
3. Practice ideation techniques to generate creative solutions.
4. Gain skills in prototyping and testing ideas to iterate towards impactful solutions.
5. Explore real-world examples of Design Thinking in nonprofit contexts.
6. Discuss strategies for implementing Design Thinking within participants’ organizations.

Who Should Attend: This course is ideal for nonprofit staff members, including program managers, coordinators, development professionals, board members, and anyone involved in developing and implementing initiatives to support the organization’s mission and goals. No prior experience with Design Thinking is required—just a passion for driving positive change in the nonprofit sector.

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About the presenter:

Jennifer “Houli” Houlihan, MA, CPM works with Austin Community College as director of product management and design workforce training programs. As part of that role, she also teaches in the tech accelerator at the US Army Institute of Software Development (Army Software Factory). Houli also has an extensive background in nonprofit leadership and management with staff and consultant roles, primarily in university advancement and development, and recently served as managing director of the Austin Forum on Technology & Society and of the Austin Smart City Alliance. She is a certified product manager and an award-winning public speaker and writer, and a graduate of Northwestern University and Pepperdine University.

Please note Nonprofit Austin reserves the right to postpone this learning opportunity if there is inadequate registration.